RoadVitals

1988 Lincoln Town Car Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Dec 13, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 99 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Lincoln Town Car submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Dec 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CLIP FROM THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED AND ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR CABLE HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 04/25/11

NHTSA ID
10370429
Incident
Nov 22, 2010
Mileage
85,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY A SMELL OF HOT OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10161808
Incident
Jun 14, 2006
Mileage
117,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jul 19, 2000

THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL CABLE GROMMET MADE OUT OF PLASTIC BROKE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. MANUFACTURE ALSO PRODUCES A METAL GROMMET THAT WOULD LAST LONGER.*AK

NHTSA ID
865648
Transmission
Filed Dec 15, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF A GROMET WHICH ALLOWS THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION TO TEAR UP, RENDERING THE 3RD AND 4TH GEARS USELESS. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST. *AK

NHTSA ID
832291
Incident
Dec 14, 1998
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Aug 5, 1998

CIRCIUT UNIT FAILED CAUSING DASH LIGHTS AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO SHOW FAULTY READINGS.

NHTSA ID
538831
EngineSteeringTransmission
Filed Nov 14, 1996

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
511319
Incident
Jul 15, 1996
BrakesDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 6, 1996

DRIVING 25MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE; PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP; ALSO REPAIRED TRANSMISSION/OVERDRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
803397
Incident
Oct 7, 1996
Transmission
Filed Aug 28, 1996

THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO REVERSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
987259
Incident
Jul 19, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical41Driver assistance17Engine9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .